Thai Peanut Chicken Saute

I'm baaaa-aaaack!!!! I got a brand new laptop and I am back in business!!! So far, everything is going great - except for lovely Windows Vista of course! But, beggars can't be choosers, right?

So, I really haven't been doing that much cooking the last month or so. You know how summer is - vacations, etc. Lots of stuff going on. I made this a few weeks ago and the boy really liked it. This is definitely something I would make again!

Ingredients:
1/2 package rice noodles
1 lb. chicken, thinly sliced
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1 carrot, julienned
1/2 c. peanut sauce
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
1 handful of peanuts, chopped

Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions.

Heat oil and add chicken. Saute until cooked and set aside.

Add peppers and saute about 3 minutes. Add carrot and saute another minute and set aside.

Add peanut sauce and bring to a boil.

Drain noodles and add noodles and chicken to pan.

Remove from heat, mix in the vegetables and cilantro and garnish with peanuts.

Yield: 4 servings

Source: adapted from www.closetcooking.com, Thai Peanut Pork Noodle Saute

Product Review: Lipton Sides Thai Sesami Noodles

I have been lazy this week. I have had some long days at work and don't feel like putting a lot of effort or energy into cooking. Since it was just me tonight, I decided that I would make one of the Lipton sides - not to mention that my dad works for Unilever (who manufactures Lipton) so I get a ton of these for free!

This is the first time that I have tried the Thai Sesame Noodles. Of course, they were easy to cook - I always go for the microwave directions instead of the stove top. I kind of have an aversion to boiling water. It just never works out too well for me. So, I made these in the microwave - all you need is water and oil if you have it. I also added about a cup of leftover chicken to make it a little heartier since this was my entire dinner. Yeah, that's right. I don't worry about sides when the boy isn't here. Heck, most of the time I don't even cook this much for just me! All in all, this was pretty good. I think it would definitely be better as a side or to do some peanut chicken or shrimp or something and use this as the "serve on a bed of noodles or rice" part of the recipe. These probably would've been better if I had added a little soy sauce or teriyaki sauce or something. Still good, considering the ease and the cost! :)

Thai Chicken Pizza

Yes, I actually made pizza. I love Thai food. One of my very favorite pizza places has a Thai Chicken Pizza and I thought I could try to re-create it since it is like, 3 hours away. I don't think I put enough sauce on it. I was trying to be conservative so that it would be a little more healthy. All in all, I was pretty impressed with myself. The smoke alarm only went off once and I didn't burn it TOO bad. The boy thought it was okay, but then when he realized that I had made it and didn't just buy it somewhere, he said it was really good. Hmmm...

Ingredients:
1 pizza dough or crust or whatever you want to use
Thai Peanut Sauce (I used a Taste of Thai)
Cooked chicken, cut up (I used 4 chicken tenders)
Mozzarella cheese
Red Peppers
Peanuts

Directions:
Get your pizza dough ready - follow the instructions on the box, or bag, or tube, or if you make your own (then you are really probably doing too much work)

Preheat oven to 450 (Next time I will cook at 400)

Spread sauce on pizza dough. Top with chicken, cheese, red pepper and chopped up peanuts.

Pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Grab the step stool and go turn off the smoke alarm. Turn on the vent thingie over the oven.

Cut into squares or triangles or whatever you prefer. I served this with a salad.